Method and apparatus for setting up cellular cartons



March 2, 1937. J, E, WALSH 2,072,659

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING- UP CELLULAR CARTONS Original Filed Aug. 14, 1933 2 sheets sheet l March 2, 1937. 2,072,659

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING UPYCELLULAR GARTONS J. E. WALSH Original Filed Augn 14, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet? fizz/6775A JoZmEi Vaah,

Patented Mar. 2, 1937 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP CELLULAR CARTONS John E. Walsh, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Self- Locking Carton 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 14, 1933, Serial No. 684,995 Renewed August 10, 1936 v 8 Claims. (01. 93-37) The present invention relates to the settingup or erection of cellular cartons and has particular reference to improvements in setting-up mechanisms for egg cartons.

Principal objects of the invention are the provision of a method and apparatus for erecting cellular egg cartons of the type having cross partitions hinged to its front and rear walls, longitudinal partition-forming sections adapted to engage the cross partitions when the latter are in vertical position and openings in the bottom section of the carton which permit the operator to press the longitudinal partitions together.

These and other objects will be. apparent from a consideration of the following description and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in

which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a setting-up device constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. l and showing a carton about to be pressed into engagement therewith;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and discloses the second stage in the erection of the carton;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and shows the third stage in the erection of the carton;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 and showing-the final stage in the erection of the carton;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the carton of the type adapted to be erected in accordance with my invention;

i Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken along line 'l--'i of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an end view of the setting-up mechanism taken along line 8-8 of Fig. l and shows the first stage in the erection of the carton;

4 Fig. 9 is an end view similar to Fig.8 and shows the second stage in the erection of the carton;

and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 and shows the final stage in the erection of the carton.

The setting-up mechanism shown in the drawings is composed of a substantially rectangular shaped base member Ill which may be cast or 4 otherwise manufactured. Extending upwardly from the frame or base member III are two rows of transversely spaced cross partition-engaging plates ii, there being a longitudinal partitionreceiving opening between the two rows of plates H. Ordinarily, the plates II will be of a height not greater than the depth of the carton cells. The end plates H! which extend upwardly in line with the plates II are turned over inwardly of the device and toward the next adjacent plates,

the purpose of this structure to be described more specifically hereinafter.

Certain of the cross partition-engaging plates are provided with projections 13 which extend upwardly a short distance above the top of the plates. As shown in Figs. 1 and 8, for example, the plates which are provided with the projections I3 are also extended inwardly toward each other to narrow the longitudinal partition-receiving opening between the adjacent rows of 10 plates.

At the end of the base member opposite the plates I2 is provided a projection M, the purpose of which is to form a stop for engaging one edge of the carton and to position the carton properly 15 with respect to the partition-engaging plates.

The carton which is particularly adapted for being erected in accordance with my invention is formed by suitably cutting, scoring and folding a blank of material to provide cover-locking strip 20, a cover 2!, a rear wall 22, a rear bottom section 23, a rear longitudinal partition section 24, a front longitudinal partition section 25, a front bottom section 26, a front wall 21, cross partitions 28 hinged to the top of the front wall by means of triangular Wales 29 and an attaching strip 30 glued to the rear wall and hinged to the cross partitions by means of triangular web portions 3|. The carton disclosed in the drawings is constructed in such a manner that the width of the front wall plus the width of the cross partitions plus the width of the rear wall below the point at which the cross partitions are hinged thereto equals the width of the front and rear bottom sections plus the width of the front and rear longitudinal partition sections, the carton being folded into collapsed condition along the base of the front and rear walls.

The front and bottom sections are provided with openings 32 adjacent the score line which separates the bottom sections or the longitudinal partition-forming sections, whereby it is possible for an operator to grasp the carton through corresponding holes 32 in opposite sides of the carton and by pressing the fingers together to bring the longitudinal partition-forming sections into contiguous relation, as shown in Fig. 8.

It is preferred to provide the cross partitions with a central score line 33, whereby the longitudinal partition section may be pressed against the horizontal cross partitions, as shown in dotted lines inFig. 8, whereby to frictionally engage the top of 'the longitudinal partition with the cross partitions to retard the tendency of the 5 longitudinal partition section to pivot or rotate out of vertical position.

The longitudinal partition sections 24 and 25 are provided with cross partition-receiving openings 34 cut inwardly from the edge of the cross partitions and provided with cross partition-engaging slots 35 communicating with the lower portion of the openings 34 as seen in Fig. 2. Hooks 36 on the longitudinal partition-forming section extend into the openings 34, above the cross partitions are rotated toward a vertical slots' 35, and across the normal vertical plane of the cross partitions. The tops of the cross partitions are provided with shoulders 31 which are adapted to receive the hooks 36 when the latter are pressed inwardly of the carton, whereby the longitudinal partition-forming sections are suspended to the cross partitions. When so suspended, the bottom sections of the carton are supported in substantially inverted V-shape above a surface upon which the carton is positioned, the final shape of the bottom sections being shown in Fig. 10. i

The longitudinal partition sections are provided with projections 38 extending upwardly adjacent slot 35 of the end cross partition toward which the hooks 36 point. These projections operate to prevent outward rotation of the end cross partition when the latter is inserted in slot 35 and beneaththe hooks 36. The projections 38 and thesides 39 of cross partition-receiving openings 34 extend upwardly within the carton asuilicient distance to prevent rotation of the cross partitions from vertical position into horizontal position when the carton is erected.

In erecting cartons of this type in accordance with my invention the longitudinal partition sections are pressed together, as shown in Fig. 8, thereby distending the walls of the carton into substantially rectangular shape. Longitudinal partition sections are then pressez. slightly inwardly of the carton to engage the edge of the longitudinal partition sections with the central portion of the cross partitions, whereby the latter by frictional engagement maintain the longitudinal partition section in central alignment. The carton is then placed above the setting-up mechanism, as shownin Fig. 8, and properly aligned with respect to the partition-engaging plates by contact of one edge with the projection l4. Ordinarily, the edge of the top of the carton will be used to align the carton with the plates of the setting-up device.

When in proper alignment with the setting-up mechanism, the carton is pressed downwardly so that the edges of the cross partitions opposite the hinges 29 and 3| are pressed against the top of the partition-engaging plates, whereby the position, as shown in Fig. 3. The downward movement of the carton is continued until the bottom sections of the carton engage the upstanding projections l3 which extend above the top of the plates H, the carton taking the position shown in Figs. 3 and 9. From thisposition the carton is moved longitudinally toward the partition-engaging plates, thereby causing the cross partitions to be further rotated into, the substantially vertical position shown in Fig. 4. In the latter position the free edges of the cross partitions are above the cross partition-receiving slots 35 and the tops of the cross partitions are pressed out of plane shape by reason of the engagement therewith of hooks 36. As the end plates I2 are slanted inwardly, the end cross partitions of the carton are pressed inwardly a further distance than are the remaining cross partitions and rotate beyond the projections 33 I iency oi the material from which the carton is constructed causes the cross partitions to snap beneath the hooks, thereby locking the carton in erected position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10. The carton is then removed vertically from the setting-up device, the upstanding-elements l3 which protrude through the openings 32 in the bottom of the carton being withdrawn by this movement. I have found that by use of the projections II it is possible to rotate the cross partitions into vertical position without interference with thelongitudinal partition and the projections 33. Then by employing the openings 32 in the bottom of the carton the latter may be pressed downwardly when the cross partitions are in proper position with respect to the slots 35 and the hooks 36. The height of the projections I3 is such that the cross partitions may rotate freely in the openings 34. partition is prevented from being moved inwardly of the carton a suflicient distance to allow interference of the longitudinal partition with the rotation of the cross partitions.

My invention as described specifically herein for the purpose of explanation is susceptible of modification and all such modifications are intended to be included in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for setting up cellular cartons, comprising a frame, two rows of transversely spaced plates extending upwardly from said frame andhaving a longitudinal partition-receiving opening therebetween, and a carton positioning element extending upwardly above and adjacent certainoi said plates.

\ 2. A device for erecting cartons of the type having cross partitions hinged to its vertical walls, a longitudinal partition adapted to engage said cross partitions when pressed inwardly of the carton to suspend the bottom of the carton in inverted V-shape, and openings in said bottom section, comprising a base member, two rows of transversely spaced partition-engaging elements extending upwardly from said base member and having a longitudinal partition-receiving opening therebetween, and. projections extending upwardly above said partition-engaging elements and adapted to project through the openings in the bottom of said carton when the cross partitions thereof are in vertical position.

3. A device for erecting cartons oi the type having cross partitions hinged to its vertical walls, a longitudinal partition adapted to engage said cross partitions when pressed inwardly of the carton to suspend the bottom of the carton in inverted V-shape, and openings in said bottom section, comprising a base member, two rows of transversely spaced cross partition-engaging plates extending substantially vertically from said base member and having a longitudinal partitionreceiving opening therebetween, and projections extending upwardly from certain of said plates adapted to protrude through the openings in In other words, the longitudinal the bottom of said carton when the cross partitions are in substantially vertical position.

4. Adevice for erecting cartons of the type having cross partitions hinged to its vertical walls, a longitudinal partition adapted to engage said cross partitions when pressed inwardly of the carton to suspend the bottom of the carton in inverted V-shape, and openings in said bottom section, comprising a base member, two rows of transversely spaced cross partition-engaging plates extending substantially vertically from said base member and having a longitudinal partition-receiving'opening therebetween, the plates on one end of said rows being turned over toward the next adjacent plates, and projections extending upwardly from certain of said plates adapted to project through the openings in the bottom of said carton when the vcross partitions of the carton are in vertical position.

5. A device for erecting cartons of the type having cross partitions hinged to its vertical walls, a longitudinal partition adapted to engage said cross partitions when pressed inwardly of the carton to suspend the bottom of the carton in inverted V-shape, and openings in'said bottom section, comprising a base member, two rows of transversely spaced cross I partition-engaging plates extending substantially vertically from said base member and having a longitudinal partition-receiving opening therebetween, end plates on said rows inclined toward the next adjacent plates, projections extending upwardly from certain of said plates adapted to protrude through the openings in the bottom of said carton when the cross partitions thereof are in erect position, and a projection coacting with an edge of said carton for positioning the latter with respect to said plates.

6. A method of erecting a carton having cross partitions hinged to its vertical walls, longitudinal partition sections adapted to engage the cross partitions when pressed inwardly of the carton to suspend the bottom of the carton in inverted V-shape, and openings in the bottom of the carton, which comprises pressing said longitudinal partition sections together, pressing the edge of said longitudinal partition against said-cross partitions to bend the latter slightly out of plane shape, pressing said cross partitions down- .wardly against upwardly extending projections having partition-receiving openings therebetween to rotate said cross partitions into substantially longitudinal partition and a series of cross part1 tions hinged to its vertical walls and adapted to rotate into vertical position in interlocked relation with said longitudinal partition, comprising a frame, series of rigid transverse plates rigidly separated from. each other in accordance with the distances between said cross partitions, and guide means adjacent said plates for receiving said longitudinal partition when a carton is pressed downwardly ,adjacent said plates, said plates and said guide means permitting the body portion of said carton to be moved longitudinally thereof when said cross partitions are in engagement with said plates.

8. A device for setting up cellular cartons of the type having a body portion including walls, a longitudinal partition, and a series of cross partitions hinged to its walls and adapted to rotate into vertical position in interlocking relation with respect to said longitudinal partition,

comprising a series of rigid, transverse platesspaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance apart of said cross partitions, said plates having a central opening extending longitudinally of said device, and a carton-positioning element extending upwardly above and adjacent V 

